In the news: Alaska, Maine, California and the US Office of Seafood
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Hi, all, I've been tracking some recent policy developments and want to share a few highlights from across coasts (and D.C.):
New opportunities for kelp and shellfish farming in Alaska? NOAA Fisheries published its Aquaculture Opportunity Area Atlas for the Gulf of Alaska this past February. The Atlas identifies 77 options for seaweed and shellfish farming over 10 study areas in Alaska state waters covering more than 13,000 acres. On April 13, NOAA posted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for the AOAs and conduct public scoping meetings. If you're a part of the Alaskan kelp industry, you're probably in the know. But just in case: public comments on the NOI are due by May 28, 2026. Find more information here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/13/2026-07063/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-a-programmatic-environmental-impact-statement-for-identification-of
New training requirements for Maine seaweed permit holders. Last month, the Maine legislature passed S.P. 803 - L.D. 1991, authorizing the Commissioner of Marine Resources to require an educational course for seaweed permit issuance or renewal. There aren't many details about this new law online, so if you're in Maine and have further insights as to whether this extends to both seaweed farmers and harvesters, please comment below. Need some additional training resources? Check out our Farming Courses and Events archive for relevant webinars and instructional materials.
A step forward for California: The California Ocean Protection Council released its draft Aquaculture Action Plan this month, a critical step toward establishing a consistent permitting framework for state waters. The draft plan describes the current permitting process in California as complicated, difficult, time-consuming, and costly, and presents a vision for a more coordinated and transparent process that enables sustainable aquaculture development while protecting critical resources along the California coastline. Taking cues from Maine’s Limited Purpose Aquaculture License program and Rhode Island's Commercial Viability Permit process, the draft report contends that the “State will investigate the development of a Pilot-Scale Aquaculture Permit Program.” While this may take time to put into practice, the sentiment alone is a step forward for for California, where no new aquaculture leases have been issued in state waters in decades. If you want to help shape the future of the industry there, now is the time to weigh in. The OPC is accepting public comments on the report until May 13, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Want more context on California? Check out our leasing and permitting guides here and here.
On my radar: The USDA's new Office of Seafood , announced April 15 by Secretary Rollins, could be a turning point for domestic kelp farmers. The announcement comes a couple of weeks after Senators King (I-ME) and Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation to strengthen the American seafood industry, and an executive order "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness" followed on April 17. Commercial fishing groups are cheering. Together, these moves signal a federal push to treat fishermen and ocean farmers--kelp included--like agricultural producers, with access to USDA loans, grants, and marketing programs that have long been out of reach.
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